The Mystery of Charles Farquharson
A wealthy man dies under mysterious circumstances, and his family's dark secrets are revealed through a series of flashbacks and revelations. The story explores themes of greed, deceit, and the corrupting influence of wealth.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1866 · Genre: Mystery, Horror, Gothic Fiction · 624 words
First lines
One night in the summer of 1843 William Hayner Gordon, of Philadelphia, lay in his bed reading Goldsmith's "Traveler," by the light of a candle. It was about eleven o'clock. The room was in the third story of the house and had two windows looking out upon Chestnut Street; there was no balcony, nothing below the windows but other windows in a smooth brick wall.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mystery of Charles Farquharson is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Horror, Gothic Fiction, Suspense, Supernatural
- Length: 624 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mystery of Charles Farquharson by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Mystery of Charles Farquharson?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Diagnosis Of Death by Ambrose Bierce
- A Vine On A House by Ambrose Bierce
- The Stranger by Ambrose Bierce
- Beyond The Wall by Ambrose Bierce
- Moxons Master by Ambrose Bierce
- A Predicament by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around the unexplained appearance of a corpse and the investigation into its identity, central to the mystery genre.
- Horror — The eerie atmosphere and the shocking discovery of a corpse contribute to a sense of horror.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting and themes evoke elements typical of Gothic fiction, including death and the supernatural.
- Suspense — The narrative builds tension as the protagonist grapples with the implications of the corpse's presence.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Short Story · American Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Detective Fiction · Whodunit · Suspenseful · Gothic · Dark Humor · Satire